New Delhi: A video from Bahraich showing local police giving a guard of honour to well-known kathavachak (storyteller) Pundrik Goswami has stirred a new controversy in Uttar Pradesh.
The clip, widely shared on social media, shows officers lining up and saluting him at the police parade ground. Soon after it surfaced, state police headquarters stepped in and called the district Superintendent of Police for an explanation.
The Director General of Police has now taken cognizance and asked the Bahraich Superintendent of Police to explain how and why the ceremony was held.
Why is the guard of honour under scrutiny?
In the police system, a guard of honour is not a casual gesture. It is usually reserved for constitutional authorities, senior officers, martyrs, or official state functions. Sources say the top brass felt the Bahraich event crossed that line.
Senior officers have privately indicated that police lines and parade grounds are meant for training and official duties, not for welcoming private individuals, regardless of their popularity or religious standing.
Who is Pundrik Goswami?
Goswami is a well-known religious storyteller from Vrindavan and was in Bahraich to attend a religious programme. The video shows him walking past a red carpet as uniformed personnel salute him, with senior local officers present.
There is no official word yet on who approved the event or under what rules it was organised.
What are political reactions saying?
The visuals have drawn sharp reactions from opposition leaders. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav questioned the priorities of the police, saying law and order should come before ceremonial displays.
The Samajwadi Party also called the act a disrespect to the Constitution and the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, asking how a non-constitutional figure could receive such honours from a government institution.
MP Chandrashekhar Azad described the gesture as a violation of constitutional norms and said state resources should not privilege religious events.
What happens next?
The Bahraich SP has been asked to submit a report to police headquarters. Based on that explanation, further action may follow.
